Granada -----> Valencia

Unfortunately, your results are correct....you have to go up to Madrid to make a daytime connection back to Valencia. Unfortunately, train connections with Granada are very poor to most other locations. I would suggest the bus for this route. The trip is 7 1/2 to 9 hours, depending which bus you catch (3 or 4 a day), and the fare is between 41 and 48 Euro. Check schedules and prices at www.movelia.es . If you wish, there is an overnight train that leaves Granada about 10 pm and arrives at Valencia-Cabanyal station at 5 am. But this "Trenhotel" is a segment of a very popular overnight route continuing on to Barcelona. If you know your travel dates, get to RailEurope or Rick's office and book a reservation for that train NOW....you'll have to pay extra, but you'll save a night's hotel cost. And since it leaves after 7 pm, I believe it only counts as one day..but the Spanish have different rules, so maybe make that one of your questions for the RS travel guru. Get all sorts of tips on using your pass at http://www.ricksteves.com/rail/usepass.htm. The best site for up to the minute train timetables for most of Europe is the German rail website at bahn.de (switch to English at the top center.)

P.S....you will also need to pay a supplement/reservation fee on most fast trains you'll be travelling on....AVE in Spain, TGV in France....but you can make those in-country as soon as you arrive.....they, too, will cost you extra.

I knew it! Gosh...that makes me feel hopeless. If we did take that overnight train, could we possibly request that a train attendant wake us at the stop in Valencia?

Amber: You said hopeless , now it's not that bad. Your trip to Europe is going to be wonderful, one of the best things you've ever done, don't forget that. There are a few planning challenges traveling to Europe, but there are solutions. Let's look on the positive side: Many travelers report they don't sleep nearly as well on night trains as they thought they would, because there's more noise and movement than they thought there'd be--hopefully the attendant will wake you, they often do, but even if he doesn't, you'll probably be awake, that's what alarm clocks are for, right?

True. It could be a little adventure.

As Kent said, that's what alarm clocks are for! If you know you're travelling Granada-Valencia on March 17th, then book the overnight train now. Then sit down with the German rail website at bahn.de to plan out the rest of your itinerary. It will tell you, with an "R" in a circle, whether reservations/supplements are required. If you are concerned about getting reservations before you leave, you can always get them through raileurope or euraide. If you think you'll have enough advance time, then book them when you arrive in-country for a cheaper fee.

Amber: Exactly! Traveling in Europe is often an adventure, and it's best to look at it that way! Norm has been so helpful, it's a good thing we have people like Norm, and all of the other regulars who share their time and knowledge, that make this a special little corner of the internet where people help people.

Norm....since we are traveling in off and shoulder season, do you really think it is necessary to reserve for our two night trains (one Granada---Valencia, one Venice---Munich) now? Couldn't we play it by ear?

Amber,

I don't have any recommendations on the Granada-Valencia trip, but on the Venice-Munich trip I'd probably buy the ticket for the outgoing journey when you arrive in Venice (since you'll be at the Venezia S.L. station anyway). I doubt that the rail lines would be too busy at that time of the year, although I haven't checked on which dates the Easter holidays are on this year (even so, there are usually lots of trains on that route). It would be a good idea to have an idea which train you'll be taking (use the bahn.de website) so that you can buy tickets for the departure that best suits your circumstances (be sure to allow lots of time to get to the station via Vaporetto, so that you don't miss the train!).

On the Venice-Munich trip there will likely be at least one change (perhaps Verona?). I've taken that trip in the past, as recently as last May and always enjoy the scenery in the Kufstein-Brennero section. The train stops for a short time after leaving Italy to change Locomotives.

Happy travels!

How much of a gambler are you....do you know when to hold 'em, and know when to fold 'em? ;) If it's critical that you make that particular journey on that particular day, I would book it now. You could probably get a seat sitting up all the way at that time of year...but the Granada-Valencia train is a popular one....don't know about Venice-Munich at that time of year. It depends on your comfort level....mine would tell me to spend the extra to book it now, so I don't worry about it while on my holiday.